Man: No, no.
They don't want that.
Lay it over there.
[Ringing Softly]
First, l'm going
to cut out this border.
[Strains]
Percy: H-Helen?
H-Helen!
Stop!
Percy: Helen!
Martha:
Stop it, Helen.
Why she stick her fingers
in my mouth?
Because she mad at you
talking all day
when she can't hear
nothing.
[Moans]
Percy:
If she can't hear,
then how she know talk
coming out of my mouth?
l think she trying
to talk.
Percy:
Now she gone crazy,
eating herself.
You stop that.
Helen, stop it.
Helen. Helen!
Martha: Stop it. Ohh!
Percy: Help! Help!
Helen's trying to kill us!
She trying to kill us again!
[Muffled Yelling]
Helen?
Helen.
Stop it, Helen.
Stop it.
Stop it.
OK, OK, give mother
the scissors.
Helen.
Helen, give mother
the scissors.
Helen.
OK.
OK.
There, now.
OK.
That's
my pretty girl, huh?
Well, Father,
James: l hope you got
your story ready.
What story is that?
The one you're going to tell
when the little savage
kills somebody.
James: ''Your honor,
l had no idea that
poor deaf and dumb child
could be so violent.''
Arthur: Your sister is
none of your concern, James.
Don't you have some occasion
you need to dress for?
Aunt Ev:
Why don't l ever meet
any of your young friends,James?
How can l invite people here?
Aunt Ev: But surely your friends
don't think that Helen
is any reflection on you.
Helen is the real head
of this house.
She's probably just pretending
she can't speak or hear
so she don't have
to answer to anyone.
Your jealousy of that
helpless child is intolerable.
Auntie.
[Bumps Table]
Oh, well, here we are.
Here's Father
and Aunt Ev.
Ha ha.
l saw James.
l hope the two of you
weren't quarreling again.
Arthur: No, no.
Aunt Ev: Oh, Katie,
we all love Helen,
but surely you must see
what an effect
she is having on your household.
Why, James and Arthur
can barely speak a civil word,
and all your time
is given over to the girl.
You hardly ever have time
for your new baby.
James is right.
Aunt Ev:
You and Arthur
must do something--
and soon.
What can we do, Evelyn?
The only thing left to do
is to take Helen
to an asylum,
and Kate would never
stand for it.
Well, have you tried--
We have taken her
to evey hospital in 2 states.
No one holds out
any hope.
Aunt Ev: what about
that Dr. Chisolm
up in Baltimore?
l read an article
in your vey own
newspaper, Arthur.
Aunt Ev: They say
he has cured
many cases of blindness
that other doctors
have given up on.
Now, why not write to him?
And have Kate's heart
broken again?
l'm prepared
for my heart to break
any number of times, Captain.
Aunt Ev: l'll write
to him myself
if you like, Katie.
There isn't going
to be any cure,
Arthur: and the sooner
we accept that fact,
the better off we'll all be.
l will never accept it, Captain.
Kate: l can't.
l'm going to the printers.
[Moans]
Now look. l can't turn
my back for a moment.
Aunt Ev: Arthur,
Helen knows a lot more
than you think about
what goes on in this house.
Nothing is solved
by running
all over the county
evey time
some quack doctor
Arthur: gets his name
in the papers.
Kate: Nothing is solved
by running
to the office, either.
Hmm.
Kate, darling,
what can anyone do?
The kindest thing
we could do
would be to find
a sanitarium
in a beautiful spot where
she could be taken care of.
No. No, never.
Oh! She tore off
my buttons.
Ohh!
Kate: It's eyes.
She wants the doll--
She wants the doll
to have eyes.
l'm sorry, Evelyn.
Arthur:Just tell me
what it'll cost
to have the buttons
replaced, and l'll--
Kate:
l know she does.
Oh, don't mind
about that.
What are
a couple of buttons
if it makes Helen happy?
l'll sew them on
if you like.
ls that what
you're trying to do?
Make Helen happy?
James: Nothing
makes her happy.
Everything you give her
only makes her worse.
Arthur: She can have
these little things
that make her happy.
Oh, Helen!
Aunt Ev:
The baby!
[Crying]
Helen...
Listen, you cannot
do things like that, OK?
James: Why? She can have
the little things
that make her happy.
lf you won't
send her away,
then we must find some
way of confining her.
What, you want to lock her
away in the attic
like some sort of mad woman?
She wants to talk.
[Dishes Clatter]
Unh!
Helen, come here.
lt's OK.
Aah!
lt's OK.
Look, l know.
All right.
l'll write
to Dr. Chisolm.
Dr. Anagnos: Dr. Chisolm
could do nothing for the girl
and referred them to
Dr. Alexander Graham Bell.
As the girl is young,
and the parents are not
willing to send her to us,
l have put you up
for the role
of governess.
[lrish Accent]
Governess?
Or nursemaid.
We both knew you'd get
rid of me one of these days.
Dr. Anagnos: You've
accomplished so much here.
But when you first
came to us,
you couldn't even
spell your name.
Are your eyes
still so painful?
No. It's my ears, sir.
Tell me about the child.
ls she bright...
or dull?
[Sighs]
Can she be taught?
She's given to tantrums,
they say.
So am l.
Maybe you should warn
the Kellers about me.
l've told them nothing
of your histoy
except your qualifications
for the job.
Here is the money
for your train ticket.
And here is a gift
from all of us,
Dr. Anagnos:
with our love.
We're going to miss you.
Dr. Anagnos:
This is my last chance
to counsel you, Annie.
You lack tact
Dr. Anagnos: and the talent
to bend to others.
You're hard to fool
and harder to please,
but all the same,
we are proud of you.
We're off
to meet the train again.
Well, l hope
the girl is on this one.
Oh, she will be.
Well, we'll see you
at supper, then.
Giddy up.
Your mother's not here, child.
l'm here, though.
l'm your father.
l'm your father.
l used to swing you
through the air,
and you weren't even
2 years of age yet.
l wonder if you remember
any of that...
or any of us.
Here you are.
There's a piece
of candy for you.
Mm-hmm.
You want your mama,
don't you, missy?
Captain Keller, wouldn't
like this if he saw it,
but what's one little candy
going to hurt?
Watch your step, sir.
Ma'am.
[Train Whistle Blows]
Man: Don't worry about it, sir.
[Horse Neighs]
Miss Sullivan?
-Yes.
l'm James Keller.
l had a brother, Jimmie.
Are you Helen's...
Halfbrother.
Do you have a trunk?
Yes.
Henry, Percy.
Kate: Miss Sullivan.
l'm so relieved.
We were beginning
to get a little bit
worried about you.
The man who sold me
that ticket
ought to be tied
to the tracks.
l'm Katherine Keller.
l'm Helen's mother.
You didn't bring Helen.
l was hoping you would.
Well her father wanted to spend
the afternoon with her, actually.
Kate: They so enjoy
their time together.
Kate, you should be ashamed.
Miss Sullivan, you'll find
that in the south
James: we make up
these little stories
just to amuse each other.
l hope you won't mind.
[Bell Rings]
[Train Whistle Blows]
Kate: How much can a blind
and deaf child learn,
Miss Sullivan?
l don't know.
Does she communicate
with you at all?
Oh, well, l always know
what she wants
if that's what you mean.
No, you don't.
All anybody knows
that if you give Helen
a piece of candy,
she'll be quiet for a while.
Can you teach her
to sit still, Miss Sullivan?
l'd have to teach her
Ianguage first.
Language?
lf she doesn't know words,
how could she know why
you want her to sit still?
Miss Sullivan,
perhaps you were misled
as to Helen's condition.
She can neither
see nor hear.
But if it is her senses
that are impaired
and not her mind,
she must have language.
Language is more
important to the mind
than light is to the eye.
But how will you
teach her
if you can't talk to her?
Anyway l can.
Kate:
We are going to do
everything that we can
to help you.
l don't want you to think of us
as strangers, Miss Annie.
Annie: Strangers aren't
so strange to me.
l've been around them
all my life.
James:
Watch your step.
Welcome to Ivy Green,
Miss Sullivan.
l trust you had
a good journey.
Annie: l had several.
Thank you.
Where's Helen?
Oh, Miss Annie?
We've put you in
the upstairs corner room.
Now, if there is any breeze
at all this summer,
you're going to feel it.
l'll take my suitcase, thanks.
l have it, Miss Sullivan.
No, please, let me.
l wouldn't think of it.
l have something in it
for Helen.
l needn't to be treated
like a guest.
Now, when may l see Helen?
Well, there she is.
Kate:
That's Helen.
Unh!
[Slaps]
[Sniffs]
Unh.
Unh!
Unh!
She seems vey rough, Kate.
Why didn't she take
her glasses off?
Well, the institute said
that the light hurts her eyes.
Apparently, she was nearly
blind as a child.
Blind?
Well, she's had
9 operations on her eyes.
And they expect one blind
person to teach another one?
How long was she employed
at that school?
Well, she--she wasn't
employed there.
She was one
of their best students.
Student?
James: Now you have
2 blind girls
to take care of, Father.
You stay out of this.
James...
why do you have to be
so mean about Helen?
Why, to confirm my father's
view of me, of course.
Those are mine.
Yes, yes.
All right, then, Helen.
'' Doll'' will be
your first word.
lt's as good as any.
'' D...''
''O...''
'' L...''
'' L.''
Doll.
Doll.
lt has a name.
''D...''
''O...''
Annie: ''L...''
James:
Thank you, Henry.
Thank you, Percy.
So, what was that?
Some sort of game?
lt's an alphabet
for the deaf.
Each letter has a sign.
''D...''
''O...''
''L...''
''L.''
Doll.
First, she will learn
to imitate.
'' D,'' ''O...''
Ah!
James: Oh, she can imitate
things, all right--
like a regular little monkey.
A bright little monkey.
Mmm...
'' D.''
James: l think she wants
her doll back.
She can have it back
when she spells it.
She has no idea
what words even are.
How can she spell them?
lf her fingers learn
the letters now,
then maybe someday
her brain will learn
that they have a meaning.
Did you make up
this alphabet?
Me? No.
Spanish monks
under a vow of silence,
which, Mr.James,
l wish you would take.
[Helen Moans]
[Sighs]
[Sniffs]
''C...''
''A...''
''K...''
''E.''
Cake.
''C...''
''A...''
''K...''
''E.''
Annie: Very good.
Cake.
''D...''
''O...''
''L...''
''L.''
Uhh!
Mm-mm-mm.
Uhh!
[Sighs]
''D...''
''O...''
''L...''
''L.''
Vey good, Helen.
Vey good.
Good first lesson.
Very well done.
Very well done.
Ohh! Ohh!
[Tries Door]
Helen!
Annie: Let me out,
you wicked girl.
Helen!
Ohh!
Unh.
[Spits]
Ohh. And l wondered
if she was bright.
She's the brightest one
in this house.
Where is Miss Annie?
She's in her room.
Didn't anyone
call her to supper?
Arthur:James, go upstairs
and bring her down.
Certainly.
l'll get the ladder.
What?
l'll need a ladder.
It won't take long.
What are you talking about?
Well, Helen locked her
in her room
and run off with the key.
[Sighs]
And l suppose you are
going to sit there
and say nothing.
You told me it was
none of my business, Father.
l was just trying
to respect your wishes.
Miss Sullivan,
are you in there?
Yes, sir, l'm in here.
lsn't there a key
on your side?
[Whispering]
For God's sake.
No, sir.
There's no key, sir.
Put that ladder away,Jimmy.
Whatever you say, Father.
Kate: Captain, we can't
keep Miss Annie locked up
until we find the key.
James.
Bring the ladder back.
Whatever you say, Father.
l hired her to solve problems,
not create them.
Arthur: Hold it, Jimmy.
Thank you, Percy.
Miss Sullivan!
Yes, Captain Keller?
l hope this is not a sample
of what we can expect of you.
Arthur: Come out
and sit on my shoulder.
l'm perfectly capable
of going down a ladder
by myself.
Do as l say, Miss Sullivan.
Ohh.
[Bystanders Laugh]
Very chivalrous of you.
This is not chivalry.
This is practicality.
You're no good to us
trapped in a room.
Woman: Ooh.
[Applause]
Not in the house 10 minutes.
Honestly, l don't see
how you managed it.
[Sighs]
l'll look for the key, sir.
Thank you. Just don't
look in any rooms
that can be locked.
All right, eveyone.
Excitement's over.
l'd better leave
the L-A-D-D-E-R.
[Laughs]
Oh, you little devil.
lf you think you can
get rid of me that easily,
you're wrong.
l have nothing better to do
and nowhere else to go.
Annie: To the best
of my knowledge,
no one in this house
has ever tried
to control the girl,
but...
how can l discipline her
without breaking her spirit?
But...
if she won't obey me...
Oh!
Ohh.
Tsk.
lnk.
lt has a name.
Pen.
Pen.
Uhh!
[Moans]
No, Helen.
[Gasps]
Annie: Ohh!
Bad...
Annie: girl.
Kate: No. Never you mind,
Miss Annie. It's--
lt's not the first.
No, Helen.
The Captain thinks that
your spelling eveything
that Helen does
is like spelling
to a fence post.
You talk to the baby, don't you?
Does she understand
what you mean?
Not yet,
but she will someday
if she hears enough words.
l'm letting Helen
hear the words.
Kate: How long will it take?
A million words, maybe.
Annie: Pen.
Did you see that?
Annie:
l spelled ''pen.''
She spelled ''cake.''
She wants to see if l can
tell the difference.
There's nothing impaired
in that head, Mrs. Keller.
Helen is smart...
and angry.
l can use that.
Can you teach me
those letters?
l'll start tomorrow.
lf both of us
are spelling to her,
that makes only about
half a million words each.
[Laughs]
Ow!
Helen!
Helen: Uhh!
Helen.
[Moaning]
[Stops Moaning]
Why does she get
a reward for stabbing me?
l--l don't know.
l'm--l'm sorry.
[Rooster Crows]
James: Miss Sullivan,
breakfast is ready.
Shall l get the ladder?
That's enough,Jimmy.
Oh, good morning,
Miss Annie.
Good morning.
Morning.
l hope you've settled in
comfortably, Miss Sullivan.
Thank you, Captain.
l have.
Arthur:
Please, help yourself.
Miss Annie, if there is ever
anything that you need,
please let us know.
Tobacco prices are up,
Father.
We should earn a nice profit
this year for a change.
Arthur: It used
to be that a man
could make a good living
running a farm.
James: Well, perhaps
if you'd leave
your pet newspaper
and come show me
my business,
we could make
some real money.
Arthur: Not in front
of Miss Sullivan.
Why not in front
of Miss Sullivan?
Kate: Miss Annie,
Helen is used
to helping herself
from our plates.
l'm afraid l'm not used to it.
Arthur: No, of course not.
Viney, please bring
Miss Sullivan another plate.
There's nothing wrong
with my plate, Captain,
only that Helen's hands
don't belong in it.
One plate is hardly worth
spoiling our breakfast over.
Kate: You see, she's just
going to keep trying
until she gets her way.
Arthur: l must insist
that you let the girl go.
Unh!
Arthur: Thank you.
Unh!
- [Kicks]
- Oh!
[Moaning]
Oh, look, now
she's hurt herself.
No, she hasn't. l know
a tantrum when l see one
and a badly spoiled child.
Miss Sullivan.
Please, show some pity.
For this kind of behavior?
Annie: Pity's the one
thing she doesn't need.
The whole house waits
on her hand and foot.
- Hear, hear.
- You stay out of this.
Letting Helen
have her own way--
it's really
such a small thing.
Small? It's seems
you've all decided
it's easier
to feel sory for Helen
than to teach her
how to behave.
Well, l've not seen
that you've taught her
anything yet, Miss Sullivan.
Quite right, Captain.
Well observed.
l'll start right now
if you'll leave the room.
Leave the room?
Annie: Yes.
Please, Captain.
Right now, if you'll
leave the room.
Miss Sullivan--
lf you're not willing
to stand up to one tantrum,
l cannot teach her anything.
Unh!
Mrs. Keller,
you asked if there was
anything l needed.
Yes, but l--
l need to be alone
with Helen.
[Moaning]
Annie: Right now.
Miss Sullivan--
Kate: Captain.
Kate: James.
Captain, may l speak
with you outside?
Give us a moment, please.
Oh...
[Helen Continues Moaning]
This is absurd.
Arthur, l'm sure
that she is only trying
to do what is best.
l will not have my house
turned into a circus.
[Moans]
Unless there is
a change in attitude,
Miss Sullivan is dismissed.
Arthur, and then what hope
do we have for Helen?
No less than
we had before,
and then perhaps
we can regain some quiet.
[Helen Moans]
[Helen Tapping Floor]
Ow!
Ow!
Shh. Shh.
Ohh!
[Cries]
Shh, shh, shh.
[Moaning]
[Doorknob Rattles]
[Sighs]
Helen.
[Helen Banging On Door]
Oh, God.
[Both Breathing Heavily]
[Helen Hits Table]
[Moans]
[Spoon Clatters]
[Spoon Clatters]
[Spoon Clatters]
[Moaning]
[Stops Moaning]
[Moans]
[Spoon Clatters]
[Spoon Clatters]
Ahh!
Good.
[Sighs]
Ahh!
[Church Bell Ringing]
What you want me to do,
Miss Kate?
lt's noon time,
and the breakfast dishes
ain't been cleared.
[Objects Clatter]
[Door Closes]
- [Crying]
- Hush, now.
Come on.
Viney: Shh.
[Moaning Softly]
Helen...
ate from her own plate
with a spoon
Annie: all by herself...
and she folded her napkin.
The room's a wreck,
but she folded her napkin.
l'll be in my room,
Mrs. Keller.
Viney: Shh, shh.
Oh, Helen.
Viney: Don't be long now,
Miss Annie.
Lunch going to be ready
right away.
Mm-hmm.
My Helen folded her napkin.
What are you reading?
[Annie Sighs]
Dr. Howe's account
of his patient Laura Bridgman.
She was deaf. blind, and mute
from the age of 2.
Did he succeed with her?
He did.
Then it is possible.
Annie: With patience,
l suppose--
something they did not give
me a certificate for at Perkins.
Kate: After this morning's lesson...
the Captain wants me
to dismiss you,
but l am going to insist
that you remain.
Thank you.
Where is your family,
Miss Annie?
My brotherJimmie
was the last l had.
He died 12 years ago.
l'm sory. l--
l tried to protect him.
l failed.
lt's no use trying to protect
or speak for other people.
Not really.
The only hope
is to teach them
to do it for themselves.
Annie: That's what l'm
trying to do with Helen.
What you demand
of her now
is all she'll ever be.
Step.
Unh!
[Sighs]
Captain.
And if what happened
this morning wasn't enough,
Helen can't stand
to be near her.
Things have gotten worse,
and l want you
to give her notice.
No.
[Sighs]
Well, if you won't,
l must.
Annie: Good evening,
Captain, Mrs. Keller.
Uh...
Miss Sullivan...
l find that l am not
satisfied with this--
That is,
this arrangement--
Arthur: Will you please
take off your glasses?
l find it very difficult to
speak to you with them on.
Annie:
Well, of course.
lf you must, keep them on.
Now, Miss Sullivan--
Annie: Please tell me,
Captain, is the little house
in the grove of trees
being used for anything?
The garden house?
Arthur: This is just
what l am talking about.
Miss Sullivan, if you
expect to stay on here,
there must be
a change in your manner.
Arthur: And you must
convince me
that there is the slightest
hope of teaching a child
who flees from you
like the plague.
You could
show some sympathy.
You're absolutely right,
Captain.
There is not
the slightest possibility
of teaching a child
who runs away from me.
lt is hopeless here,
and the sooner we realize that,
the sooner we can get
to a solution.
lt is not hopeless!
Helen could talk by the time
she was 10 months old.
Before this illness,
she was such a good child.
Yes, she was
an extraordinary child.
l believe that,
but she's not
that child anymore.
l've seen pets behave
better than she does
and it's your pity
that's the cause of it.
l beg your pardon!
l'm afraid
your love for Helen
is a greater handicap to her
than her blindness
or her deafness.
Annie, before you came,
we spoke of putting
Helen in an asylum.
Please don't give up.
Obviously, Miss Sullivan
thinks it's hopeless.
Here!
lt's hopeless here!
l'm only just beginning!
[Sighs]
Please let me show you.
Please follow me.
[Frogs Croaking]
God knows what this
has to do with anything.
Captain:
This is ridiculous.
l believe l can only
make progress with Helen
If l have complete
charge of her.
But you already
have that.
Annie: No.
l mean day and night.
She must depend on me.
For what?
For eveything!
Her food, her clothes
her play time, her sweets.
All of these things are tools
Annie: that l can use
to reach her.
And how do you
propose to do that
when she runs away from you?
lf she can run to you,
l have no hope.
Annie:Which is why l must
live with her somewhere else.
Annie:
You can bring Helen here
after a long carriage ride.
She won't know where she is,
Annie: and you can still
see her every day,
provided she does not know
you're here.
How long would you keep her?
Annie: As long as it takes.
l know this is the way!
And, Captain,
l cannot be rude to you
if you're not around
to interfere with me.
Am l to understand
that if l say no to this,
you will abandon your charge
to an asylum?
An asylum is no place
for Helen, Captain.
Believe me, l know.
l grew up in an asylum--
in the state poorhouse,
my brother and l--
until it took his life.
Our playroom was the deadhouse
where they kept the bodies until
they could dig the graves.
Annie: It made me strong,
but Helen
is strong enough already.
Please give me this chance.
Give her this chance
to save herself.
Miss Sullivan,
do you like this child?
Do you?
Captain...
with your permission.
l'll give you 2 weeks.
Arthur:
You have 2 weeks
to get the child
to tolerate you.
Kate: Percy could stay here.
He could run errands for you.
2 weeks is not enough.
2 weeks is what l am offering.
l'll take it.
[Pigeons Cooing]
Where would you like
your suitcase, Miss Sullivan?
Oh, anywhere is fine.
How do you expect
to win her over in this place?
James: You plan to
tie her to the chair?
How is it you have
no pity for Helen?
To have pity for someone
is a waste of energy.
Feeling sorry for
ourselves is even worse.
Well, l hope you win,
Miss Sullivan.
Unh!
Kate: Well, we rode
in the country for 2 hours.
For all she knows
she could be in another town.
Bring her inside, please.
Oh, she wants me.
She can have you back
in 2 weeks.
Miss Annie, please
take good care of her.
l will.
[Helen Moaning]
Aah!
Hush, hush, hush.
Hush, hush.
Unh!
[Moaning]
Oh.
[Helen Crying]
[Moans]
Annie: Percy!
Wake up.
l need your help.
Ohh.
[Moans]
Try again.
Try again.
[Moans]
[Sniffs]
Good.
Let me go.
She gonna pinch me.
l think she's trying to talk.
She can talk, but
she's got to use her hands.
Here. Let me show you.
Aah!
She's mad at me now,
so she doesn't want to play,
but she knows a lot of letters.
''C...''
''A...''
''K...''
''E.''
Annie: Cake.
"C..."
''A...''
''K...''
''E.''
[Moans]
She spells cake,
she gets cake.
She doesn't know
what the word means yet...
but she will.
Percy.
We don't need her.
How would you like to learn
one she doesn't know?
Annie:
''M'' is easy.
''l'' is even easier--
Just the pinkie up.
Annie: ''L.''
'' K.''
'' M.'' Why should l
talk to you?
l'm teaching Percy.
M-l-L-K.
No.
l'm teaching Percy.
Ooh, you're jealous.
[Moans]
''M...''
''I...''
''L...''
''K.''
[Sighs]
Annie: At least l'm back
to where l can touch you.
You can go
back to bed, Percy.
Thank you.
[Sighs]
l never thought that life
could be so quiet.
l miss her, too.
# Hush, little baby#
# Don't say a word #
# Mama's gonna buy you
a mockingbird #
# If that mockingbird
don't sing #
# Mama's gonna buy you
a diamond ring #
Jimmie: Annie.
l can't sleep, Annie.
There are rats in my room.
Can't we live somewhere else?
We don't have
anywhere else,Jimmie.
Please, can l sleep with you?
Just for tonight.
[Baby Crying]
# Hush, little baby#
# Don't say a word #
# Mama's gonna buy you #
#A mockingbird #
Annie: # And
if that Mockingbird #
#Doesn't sing#
# Mama's gonna buy you,
A diamond ring #
[Sniffs]
Flower.
Leaf.
Water.
No.
Not ''apple.''
Water.
[Sighs]
Why is it so hard to understand?
We were just about
to have lunch.
How is she, Miss Annie?
Fine.
Annie: l taught her
that stitch yesterday.
Now l can't get her
to stop.
lt's so quiet in the house
without her.
Kate: Well, when
the Captain and James
aren't bickering, that is.
l noticed
they don't get along.
Oh, well, they used to
when James' mother was alive.
Kate: But then Helen
came along,
and, well, she takes up
so much of our attention.
[Sniffs]
Soup.
Annie:
Ooh, such a lady.
She'd rather starve
than eat without a spoon.
You have taught her
so much
in a week and a half.
Annie: It's not enough.
Obedience is not enough.
She knows so many words.
lf only she knew
what they meant.
Kate: And how will
she learn?
The way a bird learns
to use its wings.
lt has to come.
But how, Miss Annie?
l...
need...
more...
time.
Alone with her?
Annie: Yes.
Why not?
Because l can't--
l --
Annie: Spell it.
lf she ever learns,
you're the first person
she's going to want
to talk to.
Annie: She...
needs...
me.
She needs me, too.
No.
You have 3 days, Annie.
That's all you have.
E-G-G.
Egg.
The word is the thing.
lt has a name.
[Cracks Egg]
[Gasps]
[Chirping]
Bird.
The bird is coming out
of its shell, Helen.
You -- You come out, too.
[Annie Gasps]
Annie: Ohh.
Well, Francis,
l believe we're onto
something here.
[Horse Neighs]
James: Father?
Hello, Francis.
James.
Captain.
Thought l'd come
take a look around.
We had an idea last year
and tried something,
and it looks like 22 inches
between the plants
gives us
about twice the yield.
Twice the yield?
Francis:
We had that blue mold
pretty bad last year, sir.
We think it's carrying
over the winter in the roots
so we're going to try to get
all the roots and stalks
out of the ground
after the harvest.
Well, with the roots gone,
we get a bad rain,
we stand to lose
a whole layer of topsoil.
Well, l was thinking
of that, too.
Let's plant some low
grass for the winter.
Look for some,
would you, Francis?
Did you need something, Father?
l think l have it, Jimmy.
Sorry to interrupt.
Horse.
Horse...
eats...
apple.
How l have waited for this day.
Arthur: l only hope
we won't be disappointed.
Helen doesn't ever
disappoint you, Father.
Why are you jealous,
James?
l'm not jealous.
l'm envious.
lt's not only Helen who needs
to learn how to talk.
Things will be
very different here
if Helen is better.
l know.
Who will l blame then
for my unhappiness?
Annie: If only there was
someone to help me.
l feel l need a teacher
as much as Helen does.
[Horse Neighs]
Arthur: Whoa.
[Sighs]
[Dog Barking]
Ohh.
Captain.
Miss Sullivan, l've
brought Helen a playmate.
A kind of
graduation present.
Please, wait outside,
Captain.
Dog.
Well, Miss Sullivan,
the 2 weeks are up.
Not until 5:00pm.
Oh, what difference
can half a day make?
You don't know how eager
we are to have her back.
l do know.
lt's my main concern.
You've done wonders
for her,
and you've done us
a great service.
l've actually
missed her.
l owe that debt to you.
Pay it to Helen, Captain.
Give her another week.
Look what you've done
for her already.
She's well-behaved.
She seems quite contented.
Certainly cleaner.
She's cleaner?
ls that what
you care about?
She's learning
to talk, Captain.
The words are
in her fingers already.
l can't risk her
unlearning it
when she goes back
to her old life in the house.
Oh, look.
Arthur: What is she
spelling?
Water.
[Laughs]
Miss Sullivan...
that dog doesn't know
what words are
any more than she does.
Arthur: The dog's
happy enough, though.
God may not have meant
for Helen to speak, Miss Sullivan.
l mean her to, Captain.
Give her half a week.
You have until 5:00pm.
Kate cannot bear
to be separated from her
for another night.
Where is she?
Your Miss Sullivan
insisted on keeping her
until 5:00pm.
[Sighs]
[Sighs]
No.
Not ''water.''
Dog.
Dog.
[Sighs]
This...
This -- This is water.
How do l make her understand?
How do l tell you?
l don't know anything.
They're satisfied.
Give them back their child
and their dog...
both house-broken.
Eveyone's satisfied.
Eveyone but me...
Annie: and you.
Reach!
Reach!
Oh, what l wanted
to give you, Helen.
Eveything in the earth,
eveything that we are,
what we dream of.
what we leave behind,
what we think and feel
and know and share--
it's all in words.
lfl could give you
one word...
[Sighs]
One word, l could
give you eveything.
Wool.
lt means this.
Chair.
Napkin.
Dress.
Face.
[Sighs]
[Crying]
Ohh.
Tears.
[Clock Chimes 5:00pm]
Let's bring her home.
Hmm?
Let's put
your things away.
Put them away.
Good.
You are going home.
Helen...
is going home.
That's right.
Put your things away.
Arthur: Whoa.
How is she?
Please. Please
give me more time.
l can't.
Helen?
Ohh.
[Sniffs]
Helen.
Ohh.
Oh.
[Laughs]
Oh.
[Sighs]
Jimmie: Annie
l'm so hot, Annie!
Can you bring me
some water? Annie
l have to go to him!
He's got no one
on the earth but me!
Do you think l want
an epidemic on my hands?
Jimmie: Annie!
- Proctor: You can't
- Annie: Jimmie!
Jimmie: Annie
Jimmie!
Proctor: We're doing
the best we can.
l'll come and get you
when l can.
Jimmie!
-Jimmie: Annie
Jimmie: Annie -l tried,
but they wouldn't let me in.
Jimmie: Annie
- Jimmie.
Annie: Jimmie!
Jimmie: Annie.
Jimmie: Annie
[Sobs]
[Sniffles]
May l escort you?
l'm not vey good company
right now.
Oh, l didn't come
to keep you company.
l came to keep you from
getting lost in the dark.
Maybe that's just what
l was looking to do.
Are you feeling sorry
for yourself. Miss Sullivan?
Just this once.
Yes.
My father has
a great respect for you,
and that's not easily earned.
He fought at Vicksburg.
He edits the newspaper.
And he's always daring you
to measure up.
lf you have any advice for me,
l wouldn't mind hearing it.
l never really had a father,
so l'm the last person
to ask,
but you've got to
stand up to the world.
That's all l know.
Well, what if he's the world?
Then you can just
Iook around, James,
and see how much bigger
it really is.
He's a man, James.
That's all.
So are you.
[Knock On Door]
Aunt Evelyn.
Well, come in.
Come in.
lt is so good to see you.
You have come
and see our Helen now.
[Sniffs]
The sweet child.
Miss Sullivan
must be a wonder.
Arthur: Miss Sullivan.
l've brought you your
first month's salary.
[Sighs]
You've done quite a job.
You've taken a wild thing
and given us back
a child.
l taught Helen
one thing--
"No."
Don't do this.
Don't do that.
l wanted
to teach her ''yes.''
Well, you'll have all
the time you need now.
Will you help me, Captain?
Yes. How?
Don't undo what l've done.
The world is not
an easy place for anyone.
Annie: To give Helen
her way in everything
is a lie to her.
You've got to stand
between her and that lie.
Annie:
Don't give in.
We're certainly
going to try.
l used to wonder
how l would earn a living.
Now, the question is,
can l survive it?
l'll see you at supper.
[Sniffs]
Oh...
we glad to have you
back, missy.
What, Helen?
What?
Oh, yes.
Keys. Yes.
l'll keep the keys, hmm?
l think we've had enough
of locked doors around here.
Here they are.
That's right.
James:
''And Jacob was left alone
for the breaking of day,
James: and he wrestled
with an angel.
And the angel said,
'Let me go,
for the daybreaks#
And Jacob said,
'l will not let you go
until you bless me.'''
Amen.
- Arthur: Amen
- Aunt Ev: Amen.
Kate: Amen.
That's a vey strange
grace,James.
l thought it was
a vey fitting grace
considering the circumstances.
So, you're an expert now
on the Bible
Arthur: and tobacco,
is that right,James?
Kate:
Pickles, Aunt Ev?
Aunt Ev:
l should say so.
You know my opinion
of your pickles.
Well, this is the last
of them, l'm afraid.
l didn't put up
nearly enough last summer,
but this year,
l intend to.
Arthur: Reverend Tompkins
stopped by the office today
to complain about
his weevils.
l told him...
James: Did you
tell him to--
l told him to talk to you
about his weevils, James.
Aunt Ev: l think
it's marvelous
what a successful farmer
you have turned out
to be, James.
Ohh.
Miss Annie, no.
[Moaning, Kicking Table]
No.
Kate: Please?
l have hardly had
an hour with her.
Captain?
Katie...
We...
Arthur:
we had a little talk.
Miss Sullivan feels
that if we indulge Helen in--
Aunt Ev: But what's
the child done?
Annie: She's learned not to
throw things on the floor
and kick.
Well, it's only a napkin.
lt's not as if it were
something breakable.
Either give Helen to me, or
you keep her from kicking.
Please.
What do you want me to do?
Let me take her
from the table.
But this is
her first evening back.
Kate: Will once hurt
so much, Miss Annie?
l have made all of Helen's
favorite foods.
She's testing you.
She's testing you.
Annie: l know!
Well
she's not kicking now.
This is what
l was worried about.
ls this what you promised me
Iess than an hour ago?
Give in to her, then.
She's the one
who will pay for it.
Annie: Please pass me more
of Helen's favorite foods.
Take her, Miss Annie.
Thank you.
There. Take her.
[Helen Moaning]
Arthur: No.
l won't have this.
l don't see that we need
to send her from the table.
Let me hold Helen
to what she's learned,
and she will go on
learning.
Take her out of my hands,
and it all comes apart.
She is the guest of honor.
[Moans]
Bring her plate back.
lf she were a seeing child,
Annie: you would not
stand for this.
Well, she's not.
l think some allowances
are called for.
Arthur: Bring her plate
back, please.
Unh!
Thank you.
Unh!
There.
Now let's start all over.
No.
- No.
- [Moans]
Annie: Mm-mmm.
No.
No.
Uhh!
[Helen Moaning]
Don't get up!
What are you doing?
l treat her
like a seeing child
because l ask her to see!
l expect her to see!
Where are you taking her?
To make her refill
this pitcher!
[Moaning]
Uhh!
You let her speak to you
like that, Arthur?
[Helen Crying]
No, l don't.
Let her go!
What?
Let her go.
She's right.
She's right,
and Kate's right.
lf you drive Miss Sullivan
away from here,
then we're lost.
No.
Helen is lost.
Captain, please.
Jimmy...
Thank you.
[Moaning]
Know where we are?
You recognize this place?
Pump.
No.
Your mother's...
not here.
Ah.
Pump.
[Water Pouring]
Annie: Water.
W...
Helen:Wa...
Wa...
Wa...
Wa...
W...
W...
W...
Water.
Yes.
Water.
lt has a name.
Water.
Annie:
Yes. Yes.
W-W...
W...
Annie:
Yes. Yes.
Wa...
Wa...Wa...
Yes. Yes.
Water.
Yes.
Pump.
Ground.
Yes.
Bush.
Flower.
[Laughs]
[Moans]
[Bell Rings]
Annie: Captain
Mrs. Keller,
come quickly!
She knows!
Annie:
Mrs. Keller...
she knows!
She knows!
Mother.
Yes.
Kate: Yes.
Annie: Captain.
Papa.
Kate: Good.
[Sighs]
Teacher.
Yes.
Teacher.
Keys?
She wants the keys.
Here you go.
There.
OK.
''K...''
"E...''
''Y.''
Key.
Teacher.
Kate: Teacher.
Kate, darling.
l...
love...
Helen...
so much.
So much.